My Life as a Fish-Girl

 Dang! it has been more than 4 years (almost 5!!) since my last posing...a lot has happened since then.

Summary:

1. Both Fonda and I had WLS in May 2018...
1. I have lost 140 pounds, and regained 30...holding steady and I am HAPPY with where I am and how I am doing. I will let you go to Fonda's blog to see her progress
2. I have stopped some medications and also fixed my biggest problem (right hip injury)
   
3. Fonda had some complications that lead to some long-term hospitalizations. She is out now and doing well and has been doing well for 1+years
2. I have celebrated 5 years at BCC and I am still (mostly) enjoying my job (see below/COVID)
   
3. COVID sucks
1. I taught remotely from March 2020 through May 2021
2. I have learned that I can do online...asynchronously, but I REALLY prefer in-person over online teaching. I miss my students. 
   
3. Mom-Cathy died of COVID in January 2021. She came down with COVID about 2 weeks before the facility where she was living was to start receiving the vaccine. 
4. Fonda and I got vaccinated ASAP, with different vaccines...hopefully this will protect us when I go back to school in 6 weeks.
   
5. We are still wearing masks when we have to be inside or close to people - I was the only person wearing a mask at an art-gathering on Thursday...What part of infectious disease with up to 2 week incubation/infection do they not understand?
6. The College plans to start in-person teaching in August. We cannot ask for vaccination status, etc. I am planning to request people to still wear masks, as there is an incredible amount of evidence that it works to slow transmission of viruses. I do not really see this to be a successful request as I cannot get them to keep their stupid goggles on when we are working with chemicals that could potentially blind them. Sigh.
4. The cat-population in the house has changed...
1. Wren, Webster, Sera (HBD today), Spot, and Franklynn have died
2. Tulip, Bjorn (AKA Mr. Jingles), and Tangerine (Tangy) - the 3 cats from our former neighbor - are still around, Tangy has become a bit less feral, but he still keeps us on our toes (even with meds!)
3. While Fonda was recovering from her 2nd surgery (~4 months in the hospital), I ran over a kitten on a very remote section of highway on the way to the hospital in Wilmington...I pulled over and went back to find her and then the rest is history - she is a foster fail/win. Her name is Phobee Anne. She is a brat. And I love her.
4. We are going for attrition, without hurry. When we are down to 1-2, we might find another one, but until then NO MORE CATS...(fingers crossed) :P
5. My plan is to take in less-adoptable kitties and help them have the best life they can. We'll see if that works.
5. I have been sewing and making tops and starting to quilt the small ones. I am trying not to buy more fabric that will sit in the boxes... I am trying to use what I have and finish ALL of my UFOs (UnFinished Objects). I just finished one this afternoon...except for hand-sewing the binding. That will happen soon. 
6.  I had a total hip replacement on the right hip in December 2020 - I decided that I was over it and even if I was "young" for it, it needed to happen because I was really hurting too much. 
1. I am now off the medication that caused me to not have the same surgery as Fonda. And I am at about 95% - mostly in flexibility and movement that I haven't done/been able to do without pain for YEARS. 
2. Right after the surgery, I was a bit iffy...What had I done? But the hip-pain was gone, at that point it was only the surgery pain that needed to stop. 
3. After some complications (superficial infection) I am doing well and even started doing yoga again! Though with some modifications (see 1, above). Every day is a little better.
   
7. We've had some Dad health scares that are scary in the moment, but everything has been OK so far.

Other than ^^^, all is OK. I had some other personal stress/issues this spring, but I survived the experience and I am grateful that I have insurance and supportive people in my life. This COVID-thing... No fun! 

OK...enough for now and I'm not even posting some pictures yet. Pictures will follow later. :) 

Peace.